If there's a way to garden sustainably and save money while doing it, I'll give it a try. That's how I stumbled across eggshell pots for seedlings. Not to be mistaken with using egg cartons as seed trays, this old-school gardening hack takes empty eggshells and turns them into organic pots for seeds to be planted directly into.
It's one of the easiest eco-friendly gardening ideas to recreate at home, especially if you commonly cook with eggs. Rather than discarding the shells, you can clean them out, fill them with seed starting soil (like this from Amazon) and sow seeds directly into them. Not only is it a plastic-free way to start seeds, it also offers protection to seedlings from the likes of snails and slugs, and it looks rather fun on your greenhouse shelf as shoots start to emerge.
So, without further ado, grab yourself some eggs and seeds – here's how this trick works and how to use it in your own garden this spring.
Using Eggshell Pots for Seedlings
There are so many reasons why you should try using eggshell pots for seedlings. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book and one of the most convenient non-toxic gardening swaps to make.
Rather than using flimsy plastic seed starting trays, eggshells are 100% organic and they're biodegradable. This makes them an excellent vessel for the fast-growing flowers that don't cope well with transplanting, as you can simply plant the eggshell itself without disturbing seedling roots.
Medium-large eggs (like the ones from Walmart) provide sufficient room to support seed germination and early seedling growth. They're not so large that tender roots will rot from excess water.
Another benefit of growing seeds in empty eggshells is the fact it offers a protective slug control barrier, with these pests disliking the texture of broken eggshells.
Besides the practical sides of eggshell pots for seedlings, this hack also creates quite a charming look when shoots emerge – especially if you use the egg carton to hold them all.
How to Use Eggshells as Seedling Pots
Using eggshells as seedling pots requires a little bit of pre-planning.
Rather than simply cracking eggs open in half, you'll want to carefully crack them open near the top, with the aim to create a cup effect.
You should then carefully rinse out the eggshells to remove any residue from the eggs.
Next, take a pin or wooden toothpicks (like these from Walmart) to poke a few drainage holes into the bottom side of the eggshell. This will aid moisture management and make it easier for roots to break through once the eggshell is planted up.
Fill each eggshell up with seed starting compost (like this from Lowe's), leaving some space at the top. You can then continue to sow your seeds indoors as you would in a seed tray.
I like the idea of using an egg carton to hold each of these shells upright and in place, but you can also reuse an older seed tray.
Don't forget to water well (I like to use a seedling water bottle, like this from Amazon) and keep the eggshell pots somewhere bright and warm to encourage seed germination.
When it's time to transplant, you can either plant the eggshells directly (make sure to give them a gentle squeeze first to slightly crush the shells so plant roots aren't restricted), or gently crush the shell for access to separate seedlings.
What to Shop
These biodegradable fiber pots are designed to be plantable. Ideal for seedlings that don't like root disturbance when transplanting.
This seed starter tray kit includes a seed tray, humidity dome, and plant labels. You get 10 in this pack.
This stainless steel dibber is a pointed tool you can use to poke holes for precise seed sowing. It has a comfortable wooden handle.
Pair your eggshell cells for seedlings with DIY seed tray ideas, such as repurposing yoghurt pots. You can also use other methods to sow seeds without using any plastic, such as using these biodegradable plantable pots from Burpee.
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